Would you want a Katana?

[Miumaru]

Would I? No. Why would I not? Cause I DO want a Katana.

 

[Miumaru]

Not to beat a dead-horse, but the age of the sword is over. You know why the Samurai no longer exist? It's because 10 farmers with rifles and 5 days training could easily kill 50 Samurai that spent decades training. The Japanese don't employ samurai or go around with swords. The Banzai charge used in WW2 worked against the Chinese (who had very old rifles), but was completely useless against the Americans who had 50. cal Machine guns.

No modern military uses swords in combat. Officers are still issued with ceremonial swords, but in combat they are issued with knives and bayonets.

Katanas were good for their time, as were swords, but they serve no practical purpose whatsoever. Like a giant suit of European armor, a Japanese sword is absolutely useless, and a sign of a defeated and outmoded military weapon.

I get the fact that some practice sword fighting for the skill and for the exercise - that's cool, and fine and probably healthy. But unless you are considering such a sport, why bother? I suppose I just don't understand the "Collector" mentality (which my father has) of collecting things I'm never going to use. Ever. My father collects old binoculars and cameras that, half the time, don't even work. They just sit there, and he has lost all interest in them (doesn't stop him from getting new old cameras though).

So don't get one. It's a waste of money. I'm sure you have bills, college loans, basic necessities that need buying and all that stuff. And even if you don't, put it in a bank. Save up. Buy insurance.

Be responsible.

Yes, because I totally want a sword so I can go to war. I want to go out killing my enemies. Those are why I want a katana, not because they are interesting or anything.

 

[Sebenko]

No. I'll stick to my western swords.

Katanas are brittle or something. Yeah, you don't magically become an awesome fighter when you get one.

So I'll take a longsword or claymore (sure, I couldn't use one properly, but they're wicked cool, and I probably couldn't use a katana anyway.) any day.

 

[Daipire]

Yeah, but I'd probably not use it.

Well, unless I wanted to look TOTALLY BADASS!

 

[ottenni]

Not unless it was for some sort of historical collection, so it would have to be an old one. But i would never go and buy i display one or a newly made one. In not that into swords and something about buying a katana screams wannabe bad-ass. Thats probably because everyone has one.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I have a genuine combat-ready Kukri; not some lookalike knockoff you find at some geek convention or replica production. And yes, I am trained in its use. Bloody sharp and heavy where it counts. It's a FAR better personal defense weapon than any modern "katana".

Then again, most commercially available "katanas" fall into the "shiny, but utterly impractical" category due to poor construction and cheap materials.

Worse still, there is a great number of "Officer Blades/Swords" (generic designation, but that's that) floating around from World War 2 that are NOT genuine katanas, though they look very very similar. Most are barely functional, and served more of a symbolic function for the Japanese infantry than any practical combat application. I imagine they were used to cut through scrub and brush more than flesh; they tend to dull easily.

In any case, quality combat steel is easy enough to find if you know where to look, but most blades out there are generic 440 grade stamped/pellet-squeezed rubbish.

 

[Phototoxin]

Yes, then I'd sell it and buy something useful like a camera lens.

 

[dariuskyne]

I used to own one, but I always liked my rapier more, for the most part unless you pay out the nose any sword is going to be 440 stainless steel, and remember kiddies 440 stainless, is about 200% better than the average sword given to soldiers (if they were lucky) during the time period of steel weapons, with notable exceptions being spanish, russian and indian "damascus" folded, and the katana of the earlier eras. half of the produced swords were cast, then hammered to finalize the shape, sharpened and put into a soldier's hands.

 

[BonsaiK]

Would you want a Katana? Why?

I trained in Katana use but I would never have one in my house. For home defense it's not the most practical weapon (hard to swing effectively indoors in my apartment, which is why assassins back in the day preferred short swords and daggers for indoor jobs) and chances are high that either my girlfriend or my kittens would have an accident with it and hurt themselves.

 

[PurpleSky]

I want to read all of the posts in this thread and punch all of the people that said no.

 

[The DSM]

Yeah, but I have the problem I have no where to put it, I could empty my book shlef, but where do I put my books?

Id have it just to see peoples reactions, and just incase of zombie attack/attacked by demons.

 

[Dxz5roxg]

Sure. Even if I can't use it properly it still looks sick and it's something to hang on my empty walls.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

Yes. Why you ask?

Virgil.
Mifune.
Sephiroth.
Auron...

I think I've made my point.

 

[BoxCutter]

One has been in my family for a very long time. So I technically do have one.

 

[jamesworkshop]

Yeah i would have an entire armoury of antique weapons and armour if I could but I don't have the money for that since I have no time for blades made from stainless steel or other such nonsence like riveted hilts.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

If I had a choice to get any sword I would not get a katana and if I had a choice to get any weapon it would not be a sword. If it must be a sword I want a Flameberge.

This is what I want if not a sword.

 

[dragonslayer32]

i have a katana, a replca from the one Morphius uses in the Matrix. I also have the Daywalker sword from Blade and the majority of swords from LOTR.

 

[RivFader86]

got one....dunno why though....well because i bought it.... but for no real reason tbh...guess just to have one...just bought it in an online shop high carbon steel, sharp and hand forged